Siân Townson

As AI systems become more capable, organisations face a critical strategic question: is automation always the answer? What should be automated, and what should remain human? The line between efficiency and overreach is becoming harder to see, especially as “agentic” systems begin making decisions over time, not just executing predefined tasks. This plenary panel moves beyond technical definitions to examine boundaries. Where does useful automation end and risky autonomy begin? When does delegating decision-making create value, and when does it erode accountability, resilience, or trust? Leaders will explore not just what is possible, but what is appropriate, sustainable, and strategically aligned.